PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1924, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

[UY TELECIUril —rEll PRESS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AVEI.IJN'OTOX, October to. 'The Legslative Council met at 3.30. The. Council agreed to a motion moved by tlie Hon. U". H. Alclntyre that the Government should take (immediate steps to carry out scientific research with a view to the full utilisation of the slack coal of the Dominion. The Stamp Duties Amendment Bill .ii d the Government Railways Amendment Bill were put through the final stages and passed. The Council adourned at 1.26 until 2.3) to-morrow.

IIOFSE PE REPRESENTATIVES. 'The House met at 2.31) n.m. LICKXStNC COAIMITTEE REPORT. Air Hockley brought down the report of the Licensing Committee of the House on the question of reforms necessary in the licensing trade. The report included a lengthy list of recommendations, which in brief, provided as follows: - No more licenses should he legalised in the Dominion, but there ,should lie a redistribution of existing licenses to meet the needs of the public, subject to the approval of the people concerned; licensing fees should he increased; no premium or other consideration should he allowed to ho paid for a renewal or the granting of licenses, and anv breach of this pro-

’ vision should lu.> met with a heavy . penalty; the petition favouring corporate control is referred to the Governmeut lor consideration; there should ■ lie more effective inspection of licensed premises and liquors and severe penal ties imposed for breaches of the law; there should he no trafficking fill licenses; no transfers under three years except in cases of sickness or death; it prohibition is carried at the poll it is not to conic into force until four years after that poll, and if continuance is carried no further poll is to he taken for nine years; under special eiroumstarices women relatives of licensees should he nermitter to assist in the conduct of liars; barmen should .lie licensed and if guiltv of three breaches of the licensing law they should lose their licenses; provisions of the law relating to the granting of permission for the use of liquor in public halts should lie extended to restaurants, subject to the limitation of six occasions in any one year. The report caused a, debate which lasted the whole afternoon and the report was tabled iust liefore the House ndiourned at .".30. 'Hie evening session was Occupied with the committee stage of the Pensions Amendment Bill, on which progress was reported at midnight', when the House rose till 2.30 p.tn.